“Alex is highly articulate and immaculately well-prepared. He has the ear of judges who trust his submissions. He is a devastating cross-examiner.” – Legal 500, 2026 – Crime (General and Fraud)

“Alexander is totally focused and absolutely committed to the client.” – Chambers & Partners 2026

“He is an exceptional advocate and his court presence, judgement and knowledge of the law are impeccable.” – Chambers & Partners, 2025

“He has a professional yet approachable and compassionate manner.” – Chambers & Partners, 2025

“He is an absolute stand-out performer.” – Chambers & Partners, 2023

“Alexander Leach KC is an excellent advocate. He is meticulous in his preparation and always provides a clear analysis of the issues to clients.” – Chambers & Partners, 2023

“Alex was one of the most highly regarded juniors on circuit and there is no doubt he will be one of the most highly regarded silks for many years to come.” – Legal 500, 2023

Alex is one of the leading criminal practitioners in the North, engaged to defend and prosecute in some of the most high-profile criminal cases of recent years. At Crown Court level, Alex is a specialist in three principle areas:

1. Murder and Serious Organised Crime;
2. Fraud and;
3. Rape and Sexual Abuse cases.

Alex is described by those who instruct him as a creative and intelligent strategist capable of influencing the outcome of a case from its very outset. He provides training to leading criminal solicitors on the value of pre-charge engagement and encourages a proactive and assertive approach from the moment an investigation begins.

In preparation for trial, Alex has a meticulous approach to detail and a tireless work ethic, often identifying weaknesses in a case that only emerge from close analysis of the evidence. Alex always places his client at the centre of the trial preparation process and has a real ability to create a successful working partnership in even the most challenging circumstances.

In Court, Alex deploys an expert approach to legal argument that often leads to the exclusion of pivotal sections of a prosecution case. He commands the respect of the Judiciary for his knowledgeable, focused and well-judged approach.

Above all, Alex is instructed as a trial advocate, sought after for his energetic and forceful approach to the most difficult of cases. Juries naturally warm to his reasoned and intelligent manner and he is capable of adjusting his style of cross-examination from the type of sensitive approach needed with more vulnerable witnesses to the more robust approach often required when dealing with the most serious organised crime.

Many of Alex’s most impressive results have arisen in circumstances where he has been retained privately and at an early stage in proceedings and he is highly sought after by private clients for that reason.

Prior to taking silk, Alex sat on the level 4 CPS panels for Serious Crime, Fraud, Confiscation, Rape and Sexual Abuse and Counter Terrorism. Alex also conducts an appellate practice, dealing recently with conviction appeals relating to historic convictions. Alex also sits as a Recorder (Criminal) and is authorised to try serious sexual offences.

Expertise

Homicide and Serious Organised Crime

R v Elias Morgan – Leading a three counsel prosecution team in a case involving a firearms execution in retaliation for the conduct of a prison officer in the course of his duty. The case relied upon the largest investigation ever conducted by Lancashire Constabulary and involved a highly complex combination of expert evidence, including the ground breaking use of material obtained pursuant to Crime (Overseas Production Orders) Act 2019 and the Interaction C database to trace previously undetected iPhone usage. The case also relied upon contested GSR, vehicle identification, facial recognition, body mapping, DNA, vehicle telematics and copious CCTV evidence. https://www.bbc.co.uk/news/articles/c9d0d63pnw2o

R v A,B and C – Prosecution of a multi-handed murder involving children. The case relied upon an enormous volume of communication over social media, which led to the stabbing of a schoolboy. The case demanded a high degree of sensitivity in its presentation, owing to the involvement of child defendants. Considerable, additional adjustment was required during the cross-examination of one defendant who, in addition to his young age, required the assistance of an intermediary. The case also relied upon the dissection of intricate and highly challenging CCTV footage. https://www.bbc.co.uk/news/articles/cly7nqp1glzo

R v Neil Speakman – Leading defence counsel acting for a farmer charged with the gross negligence manslaughter of his 3 year old son, whom he crushed with a telehandler. The case was hugely emotive and relied upon complex collision reconstruction evidence. https://www.bbc.co.uk/news/articles/cwywx42q39po

R v Philip Waugh – Leading prosecution counsel, acting for the Serious Economic Organised Crime International Division (SEOCID) in a case involving the importation and transfer of military grade weapons, including AK47 rifles, Uzi and Skorpion machine guns. https://www.bbc.co.uk/news/articles/cyv6553590eo

R v Zada and others – Leading prosecution counsel, acting for SEOCID, in a series of people trafficking conspiracies. The investigation arose out of cooperation conducted between Dutch, French and UK law enforcement and involved an agreement to load Vietnamese children onto a refrigerated lorry, to allow their travel from Holland into the UK. https://www.thesun.co.uk/news/30984424/migrant-smuggling-gang-mohammed-zada-neighbours/

R v Jieh Sufyaan – Leading defence counsel in a firearms conspiracy to murder a child. JS occupied the leading role in the organised shooting of a child, conducted by a motorcyclist and pillion passenger. https://www.bbc.co.uk/news/uk-england-manchester-68406492

R v Munawar Hussain – Leading prosecution counsel in a case (investigated by Counter Terror Policing North West and prosecuted by Special Crime and Counter Terrorism Division CPS) in which the defendant attempted to murder the store manager and a customer of a Marks and Spencer shop in Burnley, claiming hatred of Israel as his motivation. https://www.bbc.co.uk/news/articles/c990l7dlg8do

R v A, B, D & C – Prosecution counsel, instructed in the leading Operation Venetic case, in which evidence acquired by international law enforcement, from the encrypted EncroChat network was relied upon. The investigation was described by the Home Secretary as “a game changing moment in our fight to tackle serious and organised crime”. Legal argument concerning the application of the Investigatory Powers Act 2016 (IPA) led to a ruling by the Lord Chief Justice that broke new ground when considering the scope of IPA. https://www.bbc.co.uk/news/articles/c6pydlzlj10o

R v Jonathan Gordon – Prosecution counsel, acting for SEOCID, instructed in a case that arose out of an NCA investigation into a hitman, engaged by those involved in serious organised crime, to conduct acid attacks and shootings in Merseyside. The case relied upon data recovered from the EncroChat network.
https://www.dailymail.co.uk/news/article-10860181/Gangland-enforcer-charged-6-000-attack-victims-acid-10-000-blind-them.html

Fraud and Financial Crime

R v Andrianarisoa – Leading counsel acting for SEOCID, prosecuting the former Chief of Staff to the President of Madagascar, for soliciting bribes from a world leading gem mining company, in return for access to the country’s gem mining rights. https://www.reuters.com/world/africa/madagascar-presidents-former-aide-jailed-offering-mining-licence-bribes-2024-05-10/

R v R and others – Leading counsel in a ten-week, multi-handed fraudulent trading prosecution for SEOCID, concerning the operation of London and Dubai based defendants alleged to be involved in the operation of a boiler room targeting investors as part of a ponzi scheme.

R v B,B,F and others – Leading prosecution counsel in a 10 handed, joint HMRC and Insolvency Service prosecution. The case involves allegations that defendants constructed a complex network of businesses, with the sole intention of conducting a wholesale exploitation of the VAT regime.

Rape & Family Abuse Cases

Alex is regularly instructed to defend, in the full spectrum of sexual offences work, on a private client basis. Alex often provides pre-charge, strategic advice and written representations, designed to obtain the best outcomes at the earliest stage.

Where criminal charges are unavoidable, Alex is able to offer a highly client focussed service, targeted towards achieving excellent outcomes, either by deploying an expert approach to trial or by building specialist packages of mitigation, designed to lead to rehabilitative sentencing.

For further examples of private client work and outcomes, please contact David Wright, dwright@lincolnhousechambers.com

R v O – Alex was instructed as leading counsel in a child sexual exploitation prosecution involving 11 complainants in Rochdale. The case turned on the review of a substantial volume of social media material and involved the sensitive handling of child complainants with complex backgrounds.

R v N – Alex was instructed in this case which involved allegations of child rape, assault and sexual abuse of three different children spread across two different families. The case involved a great deal of material from social networking sources.

R v P – Alex was instructed in this case which involved two complainants and allegations of child rape, sexual assault, abduction, grooming and enforced prostitution over a period of more than a decade.

R v N – Alex was counsel in this case involving allegations of child abduction and sexual activity with a child. The complainant suffered from extreme learning difficulties and her evidence had to be given with the assistance of an intermediary.

R v M – Alex was instructed in this case involving allegations of sexual abuse by one child of another within a family setting.